Meet the stars of Weetwood
Tony Sears - trainer
What drew you into the racing industry? When I was 14, I used to ride pony in clubs and jump horses; I’ve been around horses all my life.
I was apprenticed as a jockey in New Zealand and later became a trainer in Australia. Favourite thing about Weetwood? I think it’s just the challenge of trying to win it, which is not very easy to do. A lot of very good trainers bring horses from all over. Last year Bjorn Baker brought horses from Sydney. It’s a very competitive, tough race to win. Highlight at Clifford Park Racecourse? Winning the Weetwood last year. I had three horses in the race, Choice Bro won it and Pillar of Creation came third. How has the industry changed in your time? It’s changed in a lot of ways, it’s very competitive — a lot better horses. Weetwood has great prize money so it draws a strong field.
It’s a great day, it’s very good even for the kids, there’s a lot to do.
Josh Fleming - Sky race caller
What drew you to the racing industry? I called my first meeting at 14. I’d been going to races since age 10. But it’s one thing to want something and another thing to do it, so I’m pretty fortunate. How has the industry changed over your time? Replays are there, that’s more prevalent than it used to be. There’s nowhere to hide if you make a mistake. More is available online, people are very well informed these days and it’s up to us to keep up with them. What is it you love about Weetwood? It’s just very quintessentially Toowoomba, there’s only one Weetwood and I’m proud to say I was able to call one last year. It’s a very famous race in Queensland. What is your Clifford Park highlight to date? Being a part of Pat O’Shea’s night last year; the running of the Pat O’Shea Plate. Having the family there and the other race callers there, it was a privilege to be involved.
Chris Munce - trainer
What drew you to the racing industry? I was 15 and didn’t know what to do — I was considering professional show jumping. I spent time at the races with family friends and got bitten by ‘the bug’ and was soon an apprentice jockey at Eagle Farm. Has the industry changed over your time? Methods have become a lot more professional. If you keep it simple and remember what it’s all about, look after your horses and get them to perform at their potential you can’t do more. Do you have a highlight at Clifford Park Racecourse? Winning Weetwood as a jockey on Poor Judge in 2010 — we won by about five or six lengths. I hadn’t long moved back from Sydney and it was nice to win a big race for Norman Hilton (Toowoomba trainer). What makes Weetwood a great meet? It’s the atmosphere, the local area really comes together. Everybody comes and enjoys the day — it’s always been a very popular meeting.
Jimmy Orman - jockey
What drew you to the racing industry? I’ve always ridden horses and used to showjump. Dad was a jockey, so I’ve always had an interest in it. I rode my first race at 16. How has racing changed since you first became involved? I don’t think it’s changed too much from a jockey’s perspective. What is your favourite thing about Weetwood? I love Weetwood, it’s just a good atmosphere and it’s a race that any Toowoomba trainer wants to win — it’s a big prize money race. It’s a good race to ride when there’s huge crowd and you get this great
feeling when you are competing. Best achievement at Clifford Park Racecourse? Winning the Weetwood Handicap on Choice Bro last year. We knew we had a really good turn of foot, we drew a bad barrier, but he came from last to win the race. Tony Sears [Toowoomba trainer] was confident and so was I, and the horse did the rest.
Michael Nolan - trainer
What drew you into racing? I grew up on a farm in Warwick so always had horses. My father and uncle raced horses together and seeing them win and the thrill of it got me interested. How has racing changed? It’s changed a lot. I came to Clifford Park in 1989 and its changed for the better.
The new prize money levels are very good, the safety is a lot better and it’s more lucrative for someone to start training than before. What makes Weetwood such a great event? Winning it! Just the thrill of winning in front of your home crowd with a lot of your friends. Just being there on the day and the lead-up to Weetwood and coverage it gets is all very exciting to me. Everywhere in Toowoomba people talk about it and it’s great for the city. Your Weetwood highlight? My first Weetwood win was in 2013 with Miss Imagica. We’d tried a long time to win one and it just meant so much to get that win on home ground.
Bernadette Cooper Sky Channel Host
What drew you to the racing industry? When I was eight I received a pony and about six months later my dad bought a racehorse. So I went from being horse mad to ‘I’m going to be a jockey’. I thought to myself ‘what a great lifestyle if you could just get paid to ride horses’, and really had a clear cut path from age nine to 15 of how to get there. I finished Grade Ten and secured my jockey apprenticeship straight away. How has racing changed since you first became involved? Racing doesn’t do anything quickly. It’s a historic sport that’s run by passionate people, but I do think they are rolling along nicely and open to change. There’s also been a massive introduction of women. What is your favourite thing about Weetwood? It is the feature race of Toowoomba, it’s a great sprint, it’s historical, it’s Toowoomba’s Melbourne Cup. I love Weetwood Day.
John Zielke - trainer
What drew you to the racing industry? Living four doors up from the Gatton racecourse... skipping school on Thursdays and going to the races after big lunch. How has racing changed? It’s just become more modernised so it’s streamlined the process for trainers, and smartphones mean we can use apps and work remotely. Gone are the days of submitting everything manually. Best part of Weetwood? It’s a pressure cooker race. It’s a full on race, you need a tough horse that can run a strong 1,400 with a lot of guts. From the moment they jump in that race the pressure’s really on. Best achievement at Clifford Park Racecourse? Pulling off one of the biggest plunges in Queensland with Ruby Red Heart.
It was all done out of Clifford Park.
She had more money and interest put on her than any racehorse in Queensland in the last 10 years.
Pat Kynoch - resident bookmaker
How has racing changed since you first became involved? The change from the cushion back to the grass track has brought the number of runners back. This year we have a wholly stand alone meeting for the first time (last year coincided with a phantom meeting in Brisbane). It’s a credit to the Toowoomba Turf Club. What is your favourite thing about Weetwood? It’s seeing old faces come back for the big day and hopefully new punters coming to the track to see what horse racing is all about. To show it’s more than sitting in a pub or a club. It’s about being trackside, the excitement and atmosphere and seeing the prices change and punters jostling for the best price. What’s the best thing about the day? The challenge of duelling with the punters and them getting it right, or us getting it right. It’s still the personal touch, the betting off a bookie on course versus betting on an app. It’s coming to the races and interacting and being involved in the whole spirit of the day.